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Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio has become a subsidiary of Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Central Ohio, a move that expands the larger organization’s service area to 11
counties.

The alignment agreement announced yesterday marks the second time that Central Ohio has taken on
a smaller Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. Springfield, which serves a three-county area west of
Columbus, joined in 2009.

Christy Schreick, executive director of the Chillicothe-based South Central agency, said
officials want to use Central Ohio’s resources to match more children with mentors and broaden
programs.

About 35 children in the five-county South Central area have matches, and 108 are waiting.

“Those are still kids we can help in other ways, but I hate that they’re not matched with a
volunteer,” Schreick said.

Edward Cohn, president and CEO of the Central Ohio agency, said South Central will benefit from
Central Ohio’s marketing reach, administrative services and recreational opportunities for kids,
including the popular Camp Oty’Okwa in the Hocking Hills.

Discussions between the agencies began about a year ago and remained focused on “what’s best for
kids,” Cohn said.

South Central’s funding has declined in recent years, Schreick said. Although the organization
is not in debt, “trying to find new resources has been hard.”

Under the agreement, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio keeps its staff, name and
independent charity status. The agency’s board also is to remain in place.

“The goal is to bring the best of both worlds and leave as much autonomy as possible,” Cohn
said. “They know what’s best for their community.”

Central Ohio is among the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations in the country. It
served about 8,000 children last year in its community- and school-based mentoring programs.

Officials said yesterday that about 2,000 children have “active matches” and about 1,000 are
waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister.

Cohn said the agency wants to do more.

“There is so much demand for our services,” he said, “that I don’t know that there is a Big
Brothers Big Sisters agency that doesn’t have a waiting list across this country.”